Now, the latest man down for the Denver Broncos defense is cornerback Chris Harris, who played more snaps in the regular season than any of his defensive teammates.

Harris suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 24-17 divisional round playoff win against the San Diego Chargers, leaving the Broncos to figure out just how they'll fill this significant void before Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.

"There's no doubt he's probably one of our better performers on defense this season, but it'll be the same â?? we've lost some pretty good performers throughout the season," head coach John Fox said. "We'll be resilient."

It's one thing for a team to say it will find another player to replace an injured starter, yet another to do it over and over and over like the Broncos have this season.

"I don't think this whole year we have had a consistent starting lineup," defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "We embrace every role we have on the team, and whoever is in there, we expect to make plays. With the goal that we have in mind to win the Super Bowl, we can't have any setbacks."

But that could be why this latest blow might be more devastating than losing even Miller, the stud pass-rusher who suffered a torn ACL in late December. Miller also served a six-game suspension to start the season.

The Broncos defense had essentially shut out Philip Rivers and the Chargers while Harris was playing at left cornerback Sunday, often covering breakout rookie receiver Keenan Allen.

Harris appeared to be injured on a third-down play about seven minutes into the third quarter and was replaced by veteran Quentin Jammer. It was Jammer in coverage on a 30-yard completion to Eddie Royal to open the fourth quarter, and Jammer trying to cover Allen on a 16-yard touchdown and a 49-yard completion later in the final period.

Right corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and reserve safety Michael Huff were in coverage on Allen's second touchdown.

"It was obvious," safety Mike Adams said. "When Chris went down, things started to unravel a little bit on the back end."

Adams, who has started at safety since Moore underwent emergency surgery to repair lateral compartment syndrome in his lower right leg in November, said there was no finger-pointing amongst teammates Monday when players returned to team headquarters to watch film and start preparing for New England. Adams said he's confident that Jammer, should the Broncos coaching staff give him the chance, would "bounce back."

"We've all had bad games before. ... He always bounces back, so I'm not worried about that," Adams said. "It's just little things, little technique things that he can fix. He hadn't been getting reps all week â?? and to step into that role is just huge."

Fox, predictably, wouldn't tip his hand yet to how the Broncos plan to replace Harris. Jammer is an option, as is rookie Kayvon Webster, who is playing with a cast on his right hand to protect his surgically repaired thumb. Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, the only Bronco remaining from the team's last appearance in the AFC Championship Game following the 2005 season, could also see an increase in his workload.

Bailey missed most of the regular season with a nagging sprained foot and played in the nickel corner spot â?? Harris' former job â?? in the team's last three games.

"I would love to see Champ back out there every play, if you're asking me that," Adams said. "Yes, I would love to see that. But that is yet to be determined."

What Broncos players do know is that they're already used to change. It has worked out for players like linebacker Nate Irving (who replaced Miller), rookie defensive tackle Sylvester Williams (who replaced Vickerson), Malik Jackson (who replaced Wolfe) and even veteran middle linebacker Paris Lenon, who has replaced Wesley Woodyard in the base defense.

"Everybody on this team is a professional athlete. Just because you aren't necessarily the starter doesn't mean that you feel any less about your abilities, or you prepare any differently," Lenon said. "Guys that were backing up, they still prepared like they were going to start games, basically. You have to, because this is a violent sport, and at any moment, that starter can go down and then it truly is the next man up.

"You can't just sit back and assume that he's going to be out there the whole game, I can just hang out. No. No. You have to prepare like you're going to be out there."